Aero drop for use with kites and other objects



May 7, 1963 w. A. FRICKE AERO DROP FOR USE WITH KITES AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed Aug. 15, 1960 ted States This invention relates to an aero drop for use with kites or other objects. It has for its main objects to provide such a device that will be highly satisfactory for the purpose intended, simple in structure, comparatively cheap to manufacture, easy to keep in working condition, and extremely durable.

A further object is to provide such a device that will be satisfactory for releasing toy objects such as small parachutes and the like from a string attached to a flying kite or any other object in the air having a string or the like attached thereto with its other end under control on the ground.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawing and specification.

By referring generally to the drawing it will be observed that- FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing an aero drop made according to this invention supported on a string attached to another string attached by an end to a kite, with another string in slack condition attached by an end thereof to the kite string with its other end attached to a side of the aero drop; also showing a small parachute held by its upper end in the lower end of the aero drop.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the aero drop.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the aero drop with slack string attached.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing it will be seen that the aero drop comprises two similar main parts 1 and 2 that are held loosely attached together by a small bolt 3. The parts are provided with slots 4 for use of a rubber band 5 in contracting tension for the purpose of holding by friction the upper ends 6 and 7 adjacent the ends of bar 8 and also clamp the lower ends 9 and 10 against the extension 11 of the parachute 12. A string 13 is attached by end 14 to the bar 8 with its other end 15 attached to the kite string 16. A slack string 17 is also attached by its upper end 18 to the kite string with its lower end 19 attached to an upper end portion of one main part at 20.

From the foregoing it will appear that the aero drop is adapted for supporting a light object clamped between the lower ends of the main parts, in the present case a small parachute, with the cross bar held by friction contact between the upper ends of the main parts as a result of the contracting pull of the rubber band, the pull of the band being subject to control by its position in the slots.

To make use of the structure as shown let out kite string until aero drop with object to be released has reached desired altitude, then take in a little slack string and then release string. When slack is taken up it will jerk the cross bar out of the notches in the upper ends of the main parts and release the object. Then the slack string attached to the kite string and a main part will support the main parts and prevent falling while the operating string supports the cross bar.

If the wind is strong or the object to be released is heavy, more tension is required to hold the cross bar in place, this is accomplished by placing the rubber band in the upper slots in the main parts.

The aero drop may be made of any material suitable for the purpose, but I prefer to use plastic; also it may be made in diiferent sizes and capacities depending on the kinds of objects and weights of same to be supported for use. In the present structure a parachute is used, but any suitable objects such as gliders and the like could be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise details of structure, and I reserve the right to make all modifications and changes so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and the following claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. An aero drop for use with kites or the like comprising, two main similar parts, each of said parts being formed partly straight with the other portion formed in two curves, a retaining bolt, said bolt holding the center portions of the main part-s loosely together, the ends of the curved portions being in register with each other, the end of each straight portion having a notch formed therein, a rubber band, a cross bar, said cross bar being held by frictional contact of its ends in said notches in the ends of the straight portions of the main parts as a result of the contracting pull of the rubber band, each of said straight portions having a plurality of slots formed in its outer edge, said rubber band being mounted in contracting tension in two of said slots opposite each other, a piece of string, said string having one end attached to the center of said cross bar, the other end of the string being attached to a flying kite string, a second string, said second string being longer than the other string and having one end attached to one of said main parts with its other end being attached to said flying kite string, said cross bar being adapted for release when slack is made in the main kite string by a user and then jerked to thus overcome the said frictional contact holding the cross bar.

2. An aero drop comprising, two main similar parts, each of said parts being formed partly straight with the other portion formed in two curves, a retaining bolt, said -bolt holding the center portions of the main parts loosely together, the ends of the curved portions being in register with each other, the end of each straight portion having a notch formed therein, a cross bar, said cross bar being held by frictional contact of its ends in said notches in the ends of the straight portions of the main parts, each of said straight portions having a plurality of slots formed in its outer edge, a rubber band, said rubber band being mounted in contracting tension in two of said slots opposite each other to cause the frictional contact at the ends of the cross bar, a piece of string, said string having one end attached to the center of said cross bar, the other end of the string being adapted for attachment to a flying kite string, a second string, said second string being longer than the other string and having one end attached to one of said main parts with its other end being adapted for attachment to said flying kite string.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN AERO DROP FOR USE WITH KITES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, TWO MAIN SIMILAR PARTS, EACH OF SAID PARTS BEING FORMED PARTLY STRAIGHT WITH THE OTHER PORTION FORMED IN TWO CURVES, A RETAINING BOLT, SAID BOLT HOLDING THE CENTER PORTIONS OF THE MAIN PARTS LOOSELY TOGETHER, THE ENDS OF THE CURVED PORTIONS BEING REGISTER WITH EACH OTHER, THE END OF EACH STRAIGHT PORTION HAVING A NOTCH FORMED THEREIN, A RUBBER BAND, A CROSS BAR, SAID CROSS BAR BEING HELD BY FRICTIONAL CONTACT OF ITS ENDS IN SAID NOTCHES IN THE ENDS OF STRAIGHT PORTIONS OF THE MAIN PARTS AS A RESULT OF THE CONTRACTING PULL OF THE RUBBER BAND, EACH OF SAID STRAIGHT PORTIONS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS FORMED IN ITS OUTER EDGE, SAID RUBBER BAND BEING MOUNTED IN CONTRACTING TENSION IN TWO OF SAID SLOTS OPPOSITE EACH OTHER, A PIECE OF STRING, SAID STRING HAVING ONE END ATTACHED TO THE CENTER OF SAID CROSS BAR, THE OTHER END OF THE STRING BEING ATTACHED TO A FLYING KITE STRING, A SECOND STRING, SAID SECOND STRING BEING LONGER THAN THE OTHER STRING AND HAVING ONE END FDIG-01 ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID MAIN PARTS WITH ITS OTHER END BEING ATTACHED TO SAID FLYING KITE STRING, SAID CROSS BAR BEING ADAPTED FOR RELEASE WHEN SLACK IS MADE IN THE MAIN KITE STRING BY A USER AND THEN JERKED TO THUS OVERCOME THE SAID FRICTIONAL CONTACT HOLDING THE CROSS BAR. 